Tuesday, July 12, 2011

Pammukale (Pah-moo-Kah-Lee)

Sunset over Pammukale

Pools formed by Deposits

Our ride to Pammukale, (Pah-moo-Kah-Lee) Turkish for Cotton Castle was 35C at 9:00 am and 40 Celsius when we arrived after a smooth drive covering the 180 kms on basically 4 lane road except for the last 20 kms. which was closer to goat trail.

Cotton Candy Way

Sandra on Walk up

Pammukale the town itself is on a ledge, and the Hierapolis ancient ruins site is on another ledge above the town. We checked into a pension arranged by the people in Ephesus and it was just too hot to do anything. We tried to go up to the site but the heat, closer to 45C in the sun was too much, so we sat by the pool, swam and I fell asleep for a nice nap. We decided to head up there after supper with hopefully the heat subsiding… which it did only a little.

And people coming down waterway

One thing we’ve been doing and this was no exception is, if the pension offers a meal we take it. We arrived up on the site just as the sun was setting. What is notable about this site, Hierapolis ruins were built on an earthquake fault line, which fractured in the middle ages sinking part of the town and creating a fissure of hot water that is high in calcium carbonate. As it comes to the surface like a hot spring the carbonate evaporates leaving the calcium deposits on the rock formations and forming pools. Over centuries this has created a huge site of white cotton candy appearing calcium residue and hence Pammukale.

Us on the Walk Up

As you begin the walk up there is a security guard that tells you when you have to take off your footwear and go barefoot. Moments later you are walking in a veritable waterfall flowing down the pathway. It was eerie and neat at the same time. Water was running from everywhere in this 40C heat.One thing about the heat as well, people lose their inhibitions about what they wear. Many wore bathing suits while around the whole site, Sandra says she saw a woman in nothing but panties and I suppose bra, in any event it was hot.

Showering with the water that falls

Giant Pools

This is really a site to see at sunset, the views and light is so much different than in the bright glare of the mid day sun. Mind you it was not without some trade-offs.

Ruins at Sunset

The Theatre

Water fall at Night

We could not enter then sunken ruins area after sunset and though we weren’t interested in visiting the whole site of ruins, after Ephesus, the light ran out and we headed down in the dark, on a lit path. We even had a dog, stay right with us to the gate, as if our personal watch dog, then he turned around to get the next set of descending visitors.

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Brian

I am a motorcycle and sailing enthusiast who has been riding for over 40 years. I was turned on to motorcycles at the age of 13 when my parents first took me to Europe. Thank God they did!
Ever since that trip I have wanted to return to Europe to ride it by motorcycle. As you will see we didn't stop at 1 trip but we have done many.
I am very fortunate to have married my wife along time ago and we have loved doing this type of travel together.
Remember WE RETIRED, WE DIDN'T DIE!

Why we ride

1. Intimacy with your environment. You are part of the scene, not separated from it by remaining in a car. Your vision is unobstructed.

2. No sensory deprivation. You utilize all your senses as you ride, you can smell the flowers or baking, w/o barriers to see all around you and hear everything. You can smell the rain in the air, hear the kids in the playground, almost taste the pie on the window sill.And its easy to produce the High 5!

3. Physical fitness and endurance. Adventure riding is a sport, and it requires you to stay in shape.

4. You are the Ride. Imagine first that instead of the destination being the goal, the whole ride is an integral part of the experience. Its like riding the roller coaster to and from Disneyland.

5. Gyroscopic leveraging. With 4 wheels the centre of moment moves laterally in the opposite direction to your travel (in essence you are forced away from the direction of travel). On two wheels the gyroscopic centre of moment is used to aid you travelling in harmony with the centre of moment, and aids traction.

5. Camaraderie, motorcyclists of all stripes feel akin-ship to help should a problem exist.

6. Maneuverability. Whether it’s parking or passing you have many more options.

7. Performance. Motorcycles generally have higher power to weight ratios that make them thrilling to drive.